Justice Minister blames Malawi police for delays in Chasowa inquiry

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu has blamed the Malawi Police Service  for delays in hiring foreign investigators to probe the death of  University of Malawi student Robert Chasowa.

Tembenu said the police were told long ago to bring forward their needs and work plan on how they would work with the foreign investigators.

“They are yet to tell us the information we asked them to tell us, they are delaying to give us the crucial information,” said Tembenu.

He also said the government had asked the police to say how far they had gone with the investigations following recommendations from Robert Chasowa commission of inquiry instituted by former president Joyce Banda.

He said the evidence that was produced by the commission of inquiry into Chasowa’s death was not sufficient to prosecute anyone.

The Justice minister said once the police furnishes his ministry with the vital information, the foreign investigators cannot come.

His statement comes at a time when some section of the society believe the government is employing delaying tactics in the case as some of those named for the murder of Chasowa are senior Democratic Progressive Party officials.

Chasowa, a former fourth-year student at The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, was killed in 2011 for having dissenting political views against the then government of Bingu wa Mutharika.

The Chasowa Commission of Inquiry which Tembenu said did not produce enough evidence indicated that the student was murdered, contrary to what police earlier communicated that he had committed suicide.

Chasowa’s body was found on the morning of September 24, 2011 lying near the Dispensary/Accounts Department at The Polytechnic.

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